MINNEAPOLIS, May 23 (AP) -- Randy Wittman learned one thing after taking over as interim coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves midway through last season.
"That I don't want to do it again,'' Wittman said Wednesday after signing a multiyear contract that makes him the permanent replacement for Dwane Casey in Minnesota. "That was a hard situation. It's very hard to try to maintain and keep things together when things all around you are falling apart.''
To say things were falling apart puts it lightly. Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale fired Casey in January, looking for more consistency from a team that was 20-20 at that point.
McHale turned to Wittman to smooth things out, hoping his experience running the Cleveland Cavaliers would serve him well in his new job. But the Timberwolves were consistently bad under Wittman, who spoke openly of a lack of team chemistry and poor attitude from some players as things spun out of control. They finished the season 12-30 with Wittman at the helm and missed the playoffs for the third straight season.
Armed with a new contract that removes the "interim'' tag from his job title, and a full offseason and training camp to instill his system, Wittman thinks things will be different next season.
"It does make a difference when you start from a situation we're starting from now rather than an interim,'' Wittman said. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity to put my stamp on this team and do it the way I think it needs to be done, and have a full contract to do it.''
Wittman Signs Contract to Remain Wolves Coach
05-24-2007, 06:31 AM
Linear Mode
